Saving Israel's desert university

Under Braverman,
Ben-Gurion gained
funds, staff, pupils

By

Tal Barak Special to The Wall Street Journal

Updated Jan. 26, 2006 12:01 a.m. ET

BEER SHEVA, Israel -- Ben-Gurion University had few takers when seeking a president in 1990. Located in the middle of the desert in the south of Israel, it was deep in debt and attended by 5,700 students, mostly local.

"No one wanted to take on the challenge," recalls Aharon Yadlin, a member of the university's board of governors and former Israeli education minister. In addition to turning around the university, a new leader would be expected to help spark development of the strategically important but desolate...